no_memory #26

no_memory

#26

by Stanley Lieber

Down in the silo, nobody really understood what was happening. Didn’t
even know they were siloed. Each official’s subjective experience of
the work day was mediated by convention, solidified by tradition,
congealed into
de facto
law through their daily, nominal actions.
Nobody had time to question minor irregularities, or to indulge in
long-term thinking. This predictably affected the success rate of
self-preservation. Life here was brief, and often metaphorically violent.

The senators were idiots.

Thomas had considered running for office, but was reminded at
intervals of his longstanding prohibition against accumulating
personal power by the clownish machinations of these elected officials, down
in the hole. Working closely with this buffoonish collection of small-minded crooks
kept him honest.

Besides, with his class 100 strength and other powers, hazing them was
fun.

Piotr climbed up the step ladder to adjust the sign above the entrance
of the senate chamber. "Let The Stress Begin," it read.

Legislating was stressful enough, Thomas knew. He couldn’t begin to
imagine the pressure these brave men and women must be under, what
with carrying out their duties during the present emergency.

"Stress is right," he heard one of them complain as they passed under
Piotr’s sign.

A freshman.

Ralph lay spread eagle on the floor of the senate chamber,
unconscious, nude.

"See if his dick’s cold," Piotr commanded.

Thomas touched the tip of his data glove to the bell-end of Ralph’s
penis. It was cold. Instantly, his visor lit up with sensor data
collected by the micro-probes in the finger of his glove.

"It’s like I always say," Piotr continued, "Where there’s smoke,
there’s a phenomenon that induces the perception of smoke." Still
worryingly chatty.

"Too true," Thomas agreed, scanning in several spectrums for a source
of heat.

Ralph’s entire body was cold.

Why was Ralph here, now? Piotr had clammed up after the second day of
questioning. Thomas figured the facade had taken its toll and his
partner would need some downtime to recharge his batteries for
additional bullshitting. This left Thomas to his own devices, which
were conspicuously still functional, while also still failing self-tests.

It had been many years since any of them had seen Ralph. For all they
knew he could have gone into politics. Thomas had always assumed he
was dead. The evidence to hand was damning. First of all, Ralph’s
approach had been all wrong. Anyone with his level of training should
have realized the perimeter would detect him. The RAGNAROK, for
fuck’s sake. But not Ralph. And he was wearing the uniform of a
hostile force. Also ridiculous. Something about this whole scenario
just wasn’t right.